Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) has revealed an alleged non-compliance with Penang's much-touted CAT government, delivering an apparent blow at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over an assemblyperson's questionable purchase of state land.

CAT is competency, accountability and transparency, Lim's motto for governing the state in an open and fair manner since Pakatan Rakyat took over the state in 2008.

gerakan agm ndc 111008 huan cheng guan PCM vice-president Huan Cheng Guan ( left ) said that a DAP assemblyperson had recently acquired a 2.6-acre plot of agriculture leasehold land in Seberang Perai, a practice totally against the CAT government.

Huan, who was a former Gerakan vice-chief, said he received a copy of the land title belonging to DAP Padang Lallang assemblyperson Tan Cheong Heng and his brother in his mailbox yesterday.

That land, according to Huan, is located along a new stretch of road on Bukit Tengah, Jalan Song Ban Kheng, where development is fast rising and is on a 60-year lease.

He said he parcel was state land and questioned Lim for allowing one of his state representatives to acquire it, which was clearly against the state government policy.

He called on Lim to explain, within three days, on what criteria the transaction was based or a report would be lodged at the Penang branch of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Taking on apparent hot air

"When he first took power in 2008, Lim had said that DAP reps in Penang will not be allowed to apply for state land," Huan told reporters here.

"What has happenned now? We want him to explain, as his government is in question," he added.

At the press conference on the mainland yesterday, Huan was accompanied by PCM national treasurer and organising secretary KC Lim and Youth leader Liew Yeow Hooi.

Huan also showed a copy of the map, indicating the location of the land in question - Lot 1995, Mukim 10, in Bukit Mertajam.

In 2008, Lim had reportedly told the media that DAP elected representatives in Penang would not be allowed to apply for state land.

In its March 24 edition, New Straits Times quoted Lim as saying he would not entertain any such application and he would take action against those who persisted in doing so.

Lim said the decision was reached following a meeting with all seven DAP Members of Parliament and 19 assemblypersons in Penang.

Those who wanted to own land should submit their applications through the normal channel and these would undergo the normal process.

Meanwhile, Huan said "reliable sources" had informed him that Tan Cheong Heng had acquired the land with an 80 percent discount.

He said many low-medium cost houses could be built on this land to overcome the shortage of such houses for those who could afford them.

The truth of the matter

"Do they give other ordinary people such discounts? Looks like the CAT governance is totally useless now," he said.

He said he had nothing against the assemblyperson but had to be a watchdog to monitor irregularities in the state.

tan cheong heng In an immediate response, Tan ( left ) said he welcomed any report to the MACC against him as he had "nothing to hide" but added that Huan should have clarified the matter with him earlier.

He said the land was an ancestral plot that had been granted to him and his brother Tang Chong Hock by the Seberang Perai Tengah district and land office in 2002, long before the 2008 election.

The land, under temporary occupation licence (TOL), was owned by his grandfather, whose leasehold ownership expired in 1980s, he explained.

The brothers had been paying the annual TOL rate up to the middle of this year, and had applied about three times to convert the land into leasehold, only to be rejected by the BN government prior to 2008.

Tan said the approval finally came in July this year, and both brothers managed to register the land under their names in accordance with Section 384 of the National Land Code (NLC) for a 60-year lease, which expires in 2071.

"I have already explained to Lim about the land, which will used for an oil palm plantation, during a meeting in 2008," Tan said.

On the 80 percent discounted premium rate of RM98,097, Tan said this was allowed for family heirs under the NLC, when converting the land title.

The actual premium sum would be RM490,485.